We’re all pressed for time. It seems like the most popular excuse for everything from missing an appointment to failure on a diet plan is lack of time. Interestingly, however, we all have the same twenty-four hours and others with similarly busy schedules have no problems adjusting their hectic lifestyle to accommodate their healthy diet and their personal time. So how do they manage to eat right on such a time budget? While it can be tricky, there’s really nothing to it.

The key to eating right on limited time is planning ahead. If you anticipate that you won’t have time to make a healthy meal, you plan ahead! Simple, right?

It’s sad that many of us are guilty of sabotaging our fitness goals. That’s right—we are so accustomed to being unhealthy or satisfying for less than great eating habits, we wait until the last possible moment to plan a meal, only to realize that we don’t have time for something truly healthy. This happens even when we knew far in advance that we wouldn’t have the time necessary to prepare a meal. When you plan ahead, you are prepared for quick healthy meals every single day.

Eating right on a time budget starts with having a kitchen stocked with easy, healthy foods. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are crucial to staying on the right track. When your fridge is empty, you are far more likely to resort to the drive-thru. Ensuring you have healthy snacks and meal items on hand every single week should be a serious priority.

Another hint is to cook ahead. Make a big pot of vegetable soup over the weekend, for instance, for eating throughout the week. Soups are great because they are easily frozen and defrosted in the microwave. Make enough to freeze half the batch for a few weeks down the road. Other things that can be cooked ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for quick and convenient meals include salads, grilled chicken breast pieces, brown rice, and breakfast foods like oatmeal. I personally cook a big pot of oatmeal and one of brown rice every weekend. Then I have two whole grain options that easily pair with any meal throughout the week.

There’s no excuse for not planning ahead. It’s not like you don’t already know you are a busy person. Preparing ahead of time for those days when you don’t have a minute to spare will make it easy to stick with your diet plan no matter what fitness program you are following.